Pittsburgh: 5 free things to see and do

By KEVIN BEGOS - Associated Press

April 13, 2014 12:01 AM

A towboat and barges make their way up the Allegheny River under three historic bridges named after, from foreground, Robert Clemente, Andy Warhol, and Rachel Carson in downtown Pittsburgh, March 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)AP

By KEVIN BEGOS - Associated Press

April 13, 2014 12:01 AM

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh may have been built around the steel and coal industries, but the once-sooty city now features a beautiful downtown river walk, multicultural neighborhoods and restaurants and even free subway rides.

Point State Park

One of the best free things to do begins where Pittsburgh was founded. The Fort Pitt Blockhouse at Point State Park is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year. Originally constructed in 1764 as part of a British fort, it's located at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers. The blockhouse itself is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but the surrounding park is always free and is a great place for picnics, bike rides and runs. The park also connects to a river walk that stretches along both shores of the Allegheny River. It's easy to walk across to the north side of town on historic steel bridges, at left, named after baseball star Roberto Clemente, artist Andy Warhol and environmentalist Rachel Carson.

Historic downtown

Subway and bus rides are free in the so-called downtown Pittsburgh Triangle, and the no-charge zone includes stops at sports stadiums Heinz Field and PNC Park. You can visit the Cultural District, known for galleries and arts events, as well as business landmarks such as Mellon Green and the U.S. Steel Tower. There's also significant 19th-century architecture on various downtown streets, because tycoons such as the Carnegie, Mellon and Heinz families spent vast sums promoting the city and its businesses. Free walking tours of the city in 10 languages can be downloaded at the Robert Morris University website.

Strip District

Long home to Pittsburgh's fruit, meat and fish wholesalers, the Strip District has kept many of those businesses while adding a wide variety of specialty food stores, restaurants and shops. A six- or seven-block area along Penn Avenue features Italian bakeries, Vietnamese noodle shops and stores specializing in Italian, Mexican, Oriental, Polish, Greek, and Middle Eastern food, along with a large fresh fish market that also sells sushi and sandwiches. There are also specialty coffee and tea shops, vegetarian restaurants and neighborhood bars, all fun to browse.

MOUNT Washington

This neighborhood provides an iconic view of downtown Pittsburgh and its three rivers, as well as restaurants and shops. Mount Washington is on top of a steep hill that rises about 400 feet above the Monongahela River. It's accessible by car, but many people take public transportation for fun. Picture train tracks going up the side of an almost vertical hill.

Frick Art and Historical Center

The former home of 19th-century steel titan Henry Clay Frick takes visitors back to America's Gilded Age, when industrialists amassed vast fortunes and spent lavishly on homes, art and antiques. Admission is free and there are rotating exhibits of art from Frick's personal collection as well as a car and carriage museum that features a 1914 Rolls-Royce and a 1903 electric car. The center is on the edge of a 644-acre public park that features trails, playgrounds and lawn bowling greens.